The Energon Pub

Jeysie wrote:Porting over from the other thread.

Devastron wrote:Well we do have to be cognizant of the alt modes. If someone say wanted to play Doublecross, then he would get stuck back at the base for a large portion of the game since he can't blend in with Earth vehicles. The other option is to change his alternate mode. That works with some characters, but definitely not with Doublecross. It would effectively ruin him.

Definitely agreed, just saying that's the easiest part to figure out, since there's usually multiple characters in any given altmode category.

Devastron wrote:As for personalities not getting along, that is definitely part of the game. It would be fairly boring if everyone got along perfectly. There need to be some bumps in the road, opportunities for drama or scheming. Look no further then the classic Megatron-Starscream relationship for that. It works for the Autobots too, as Sunstreaker basically gets along with no one other than Sideswipe. Conflict, internal and external, is what fuels the story.

I didn't mean "fitting in" in terms of personality meshing, but in terms of being useless and/or having nothing to contribute to what's going on.

Devastron wrote:As for recommending characters I generally try to avoid this, the starting canon roster for this game being the exception. I want people to play whomever they want to play.

Well, I have plenty of characters I might enjoy playing, but if I pick one that's suited to one type of storyline and we end up with another type of storyline they don't apply to...

I mean, I think someone like Nightbeat or Slamdance might be cool to play, but there's no point in playing them if there's not going to be a need for an investigator or a journalist, is there? So this is where a list or notes on what types of characters are needed from the mods comes in handy.

There won't be a list of needed characters. That's like us saying you're only allowed to play certain characters for one story and when it's over you need to drop them for another character best suited to another storyline. That's just not going to happen and it make no sense.

Ember wrote:There won't be a list of needed characters. That's like us saying you're only allowed to play certain characters for one story and when it's over you need to drop them for another character best suited to another storyline. That's just not going to happen and it make no sense.

So you'd rather have someone apply for a character and then realize they can't actually do anything with them because the way the storyline's going to be going won't give them anything to do?

I mean, imagine if I had applied to play Skids right before the switch in the current storyline instead of at the start of the game. I'd be stuck with a character I can't do anything with because everything that will be happening is with events he's useless in.

It's not a matter of being allowed, it's a matter of knowing that once you've applied for a character you'll get to have a reason to post with them. People want to know what types of characters will work in the storyline that's coming up, and since you mods are the only people who know that...

Muajajajajaaa... I'm back, baby! I hope my application for Barrage gets accepted and I can start playing soon... If I can manage the characters I asked to control, I may try to play a couple of bots... But boy is good to be back in town...


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I just finished reading all your post in this "chatterbox" guys, and let me tell you that I understand your concern about picking a character that soothes you and that may not get stuck in the base for long periods of time. You want some adrenaline. Well, may I advise you, though I haven't played for long, that as far as I am concerned JUST PLAY! and let the story develop...

Mods in Seiby, and I've played under Cry's watching eye for quite a long time so I know what I'm talking about, always know how to keep track of the story they want to ultimately create. STOP WORRYING so much and enjoy the game... if you want to participate there's always a way, at least I've always found a way to keep my chars busy in Seiby's RPGs.

Hope this post helps tranquilizing some of the newbies... if you need anything, once I'm in just ask for help... it's always a pleasure...





I said NO sigs in this forum!

Acrata wrote:Well, may I advise you, though I haven't played for long, that as far as I am concerned JUST PLAY! and let the story develop...

Well, it's kind of hard to just play if there's nothing in the storyline for your character to do, isn't there? :3

Basically, like I said, I've had it sometimes where the GM in my other campaigns wasn't really clear enough on what the storyline was going to be like, so I ended up with a bad choice of character that wasn't really needed. So I certainly wouldn't mind knowing what types of characters are going to be useful in the upcoming storyline so I can see if the characters I'd want to play are among them.

Rather than taking up the long while to write up an application only to find out it's a character that there won't be any point in playing. I can't speak for everyone else, but I'm guessing that's the same sort of concern other newbies are having, and you're just scaring off potential players by not helping them out.

Jeysie wrote:

Acrata wrote:Well, may I advise you, though I haven't played for long, that as far as I am concerned JUST PLAY! and let the story develop...

Well, it's kind of hard to just play if there's nothing in the storyline for your character to do, isn't there? :3

Basically, like I said, I've had it sometimes where the GM in my other campaigns wasn't really clear enough on what the storyline was going to be like, so I ended up with a bad choice of character that wasn't really needed. So I certainly wouldn't mind knowing what types of characters are going to be useful in the upcoming storyline so I can see if the characters I'd want to play are among them.

Rather than taking up the long while to write up an application only to find out it's a character that there won't be any point in playing. I can't speak for everyone else, but I'm guessing that's the same sort of concern other newbies are having, and you're just scaring off potential players by not helping them out.

There has been, and always will be, something for every player to do in this RPG. Telling a player which character, or suggesting which character for a player to take is not going to happen. The staff will be opening up Cybertron for play, therefore any character you wish to play can be applied for, as long as they are canons. As far as Earth is concerned, you can apply for any canon character as long as their alternate modes fit into the Infiltration phase. That means no giant insects, no monsters, no dinosaurs., etc.

Ember wrote:There has been, and always will be, something for every player to do in this RPG. Telling a player which character, or suggesting which character for a player to take is not going to happen.

I find that a rather disappointing attitude, but so be it I guess. I don't see why you're so deadset against giving players some help in knowing what choices of characters will let them get into the game easily, instead of leaving them to flounder and hope they luck out and pick someone who'll have opportunities to participate in the way the story's going instead of someone who'll end up having to sit out.

Especially since the whole reason this got started is because you had potential new players asking for that exact sort of help. I would think you would want to encourage the new people who want to join.

I mean, I'm probably going to want to apply for a new second character since Skids'll be pretty useless for a Cybertron-based storyline, but since I have absolutely idea either what sort of character would be useful... *shrug*

Jeysie wrote:I find that a rather disappointing attitude, but so be it I guess. I don't see why you're so deadset against giving players some help in knowing what choices of characters will let them get into the game easily, instead of leaving them to flounder and hope they luck out and pick someone who'll have opportunities to participate in the way the story's going instead of someone who'll end up having to sit out.

I agree. it sucks to be the guy who sits at home donig nothing.

i'm sort of confused on what qualifies as a fan-character and a canon character? i saw slamdance brought up and that made me wonder about squawkbox. i figure he'd be non-canon.

I know the guide lines are "could fit in in an infiltration setting" but then some character are deemed fan made any way. I know thy have to be g1/g2 and basically from IDW continuity.

also i initially hoped the arival of the dinobots and predacons would signal the option of more beast alt moded characters

Jeysie wrote:

Ember wrote:There has been, and always will be, something for every player to do in this RPG. Telling a player which character, or suggesting which character for a player to take is not going to happen.

I find that a rather disappointing attitude, but so be it I guess. I don't see why you're so deadset against giving players some help in knowing what choices of characters will let them get into the game easily, instead of leaving them to flounder and hope they luck out and pick someone who'll have opportunities to participate in the way the story's going instead of someone who'll end up having to sit out.

Especially since the whole reason this got started is because you had potential new players asking for that exact sort of help. I would think you would want to encourage the new people who want to join.

I mean, I'm probably going to want to apply for a new second character since Skids'll be pretty useless for a Cybertron-based storyline, but since I have absolutely idea either what sort of character would be useful... *shrug*

You aren't understanding what we are saying. We prefer to give people the freedom of taking any character they want when we can. We place what they players want above all else. Its up to us to find something for that character to do. I think its better to encourage players to take whomever they want than to try and limit them. How many new players would we get if we denied their applications because 'we don't need that character right now?' If people want advice on characters to take I'm more than willing to offer it, but my primary concern will be finding a character they would like to play. Once they have one picked out its up to us on the staff to make that character work in the game. We take the hard part on ourselves so the players have more freedom.

I've had a PM or two asking for some character suggestions but nothing along the lines you are describing here. The canon roster is going to expand. I'm not sure if we are going to list every character there is that could possibly be played. Such a list becomes very long, difficult to navigate and a bit intimidating. If people really want a roster with every single possible character on it, we'll make it. Frankly I think keeping it short helps with new players. If someone wants to play a character not listed then I imagine they already know a lot about that character or had done their research on that character. That leads to a better RPer I think.

As for Cybertron, I guess we haven't been clear on this point. The game will not be relocating to Cybertron, only a portion of the characters will be traveling there. A great deal of characters will be staying on Earth. If your concern is that Skids is unplayable on Cybertron, which I don't really think he is, then he can stay on Earth.

Name_Violation wrote:

Jeysie wrote:I find that a rather disappointing attitude, but so be it I guess. I don't see why you're so deadset against giving players some help in knowing what choices of characters will let them get into the game easily, instead of leaving them to flounder and hope they luck out and pick someone who'll have opportunities to participate in the way the story's going instead of someone who'll end up having to sit out.

I agree. it sucks to be the guy who sits at home donig nothing.

i'm sort of confused on what qualifies as a fan-character and a canon character? i saw slamdance brought up and that made me wonder about squawkbox. i figure he'd be non-canon.

I know the guide lines are "could fit in in an infiltration setting" but then some character are deemed fan made any way. I know thy have to be g1/g2 and basically from IDW continuity.

also i initially hoped the arival of the dinobots and predacons would signal the option of more beast alt moded characters

A canon character is basically one who appeared in the American G1 cartoons or had an American released toy or profile. Characters like Arcee, Elita-1 and all of the various Pretenders and Powermasters would be considered canon. Characters like Sunstorm, Drift and Impactor would be considered fanmade.

All alternate modes will be allowed on Cybertron since there is no reason they need to blend in with anything there.

I just wanted to add my two cents in to this discussion. There's a lot of concern about characters being "useless" in a given storyline. I don't feel that any character is useless in any story. Each TF has his or her strengths and weaknesses and abilities, but none are useless. Just because some are scientists doesn't mean they can't do other things like fighting and whatnot.

As far as being stuck back at base, the mods asked us before this current battle started whether we wanted our guys to go on the mission or not. It was up to the indivivual player to decide what to do. If you didn't want your character stuck back at base, all you had to do was let the mods know. All are capable of fighting to some degree, including ones like Skids. So no one really had to be left behind.

Devastron wrote:You aren't understanding what we are saying. We prefer to give people the freedom of taking any character they want when we can. We place what they players want above all else. Its up to us to find something for that character to do.

I guess I've always had the opposite mindset... if the mods are busy thinking up the storyline, then it's my job to figure out how I best want to fit into it.

Devastron wrote:How many new players would we get if we denied their applications because 'we don't need that character right now?'

More like if a new player knows a new character isn't needed right now, they'll spend their time applying for someone else instead that is needed.

Devastron wrote:If people want advice on characters to take I'm more than willing to offer it, but my primary concern will be finding a character they would like to play.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I've got several characters I'd possibly like to play at some point. It's just a question of which ones would be useful now, and which aren't worth bothering with (yet).

Devastron wrote:I'm not sure if we are going to list every character there is that could possibly be played. Such a list becomes very long, difficult to navigate and a bit intimidating. If people really want a roster with every single possible character on it, we'll make it.

Well, considering that people have asked for an expanded roster, I get the feeling they'd at least like some notes on what types of characters will be needed.

I mean, the only reason I started playing Skids at all is because I just happened to list a few random examples of the type of character I would likely want to play, and Ember told me he'd work well. Otherwise it would have never occurred to me to apply for him.

Devastron wrote:As for Cybertron, I guess we haven't been clear on this point. The game will not be relocating to Cybertron, only a portion of the characters will be traveling there. A great deal of characters will be staying on Earth. If your concern is that Skids is unplayable on Cybertron, which I don't really think he is, then he can stay on Earth

Aah. See, it's too easy to make incorrect assumptions about things. :>

In any case, I didn't realize this would be such a matter of contention. :> I mean, in my other RP groups, it's pretty standard procedure for the GM to say something like, "This is going to be a campaign involving lots of magic in a city, so magic-users would be most useful, while druids probably wouldn't be", and that sort of thing.

Could I be Jazz?

Yes you are able to be Jazz, but you have to submit a profile with a sample post proving you are capable of keeping to character.

I think the disagreement we are having here Jeysie comes from how you view the game. It sounds like you played a lot of table top type of games, which are very different from this type of game. In tabletop games you typically create characters and move along an adventure to accomplish some sort of goal. With that in mind you try to pick the correct characters to play, purchase the correct equipment and ready the appropriate spells, etc.

This game isn't about accomplishing goals or quests, this game is about telling a story. Its pretty much already determined whether you are going to meet the goal or accomplish the quest, its how you get there that matters. Its interactions between characters that matter, in combat and in between combat. That is the meat of this game. It doesn't matter whether your character is a science type or a die hard warrior, you can interact with other characters.

The other major difference between this and the tabletop RPGs you seem to be referencing is that those games typically use characters created by the players. The players can create whatever personalities they want for their characters. This game is primarily canon character based. People play characters who they like, not who they think would be most useful. Personalities are the primary draw here, thats why we try be as open as we are about characters in the game.

Devastron wrote:It doesn't matter whether your character is a science type or a die hard warrior, you can interact with other characters.

Sure, but certain types of characters are more fun in certain situations than others.

I mean, to borrow from Smokescreen's comment, sure, technically I could have brought Skids to the Area 51 battle, but it would be both rather fruitless and out of character. Fighting is definitely not the "point" of that character.

Devastron wrote:This game is primarily canon character based. People play characters who they like, not who they think would be most useful. Personalities are the primary draw here, thats why we try be as open as we are about characters in the game.

Well, of course, but the TF canon characters still have specialties and specific things that define their character. Like I gave as an example earlier, Nightbeat might be a very fun character to play if there's a mystery to investigate, since that's his thing... but he's kind of mostly Autobot car n+1 otherwise.

And IMHO it's not you mods' job to go out of your way to give me excuses to play a character... you've got the storyline as a whole to worry about. Instead it's my job to look at what you mods are doing with your storyline and find a character that appeals to me and will help things along.

That's where I was coming from, I guess. *shrug*

Edit: I guess part of my thing is... I can think of several characters I wouldn't mind playing, but they're all pretty equal in terms of who would be most fun to me to play. Instead, it's a matter of looking at the plot and making a choice based on who will help out the most. I prefer to react to what's already going on and help "solve problems".

Hi guys this is my first time here. I'm thinking this could be fun but I'm not sure how this really works. Is it possible to "set in" on one of this games and see how it works. Or is the game not played that way? I think I'd like to try but I don't want to mess up the experiance for any one else. Thanks

Welcome to seibertron!

just read over whats been goin on if you wanna see how thing work. read the rules and history and your good to go. apply for a character that seems like fun, and if you have any questions just ask.


Yay i remembered to remove my sig!

Hey guys, has anyone seen or heard from Kid in a Hat? He hasn't posted in about a week.

I'd been wondering that myself. I seem to have bad luck trying to have conversations with people...

Just to let everyone know if you're waiting for a response from Pipes, Swoop or Swindle just move on without it. We've waited long enough for the player to respond.

OK, I guess. *sigh* Although I'm finding that I just don't have anything to contribute at all, because everyone I end up interacting with keeps leaving... (that probably should tell me something, like I'm not good at forum RP).

Jeysie wrote:OK, I guess. *sigh* Although I'm finding that I just don't have anything to contribute at all, because everyone I end up interacting with keeps leaving... (that probably should tell me something, like I'm not good at forum RP).

Don't say that. I personally think you're very good at this RPG. It's not your fault that people won't respond.

Why don't you have Needlenose go to the training room and interact with Skywarp. I could also maybe get Smokescreen to interact with Skids if you want. Once Smokey's done in the med bay, I was going to take him to the command center to run a system diagnostic on the ship's computer and keep an eye on the human internet. Smokey could do that with Skids' help. I don't plan on leaving, so you won't have to worry about that. Just an idea.

I am with Smokey here. Don't give up Jeysie. You are a good writer who has just had some bad luck.

On another note, would you people be interested in playing more characters if the limit was changed? Personally I wouldn't mind increasing the limit as long as people feel they can handle all the characters they have. I would like to hear more suggestions in general how to make the game more appealing to everyone.

personally while being able to play more chars would be cool, i hate seeing like 12 people play 40-50 characters. it gets rediculous.

i haven't been able to find a 3rd character (that i think would be acceptable) i want to play.

but if other like the idea, by all means lets have fun